Printing device, printing device control method, external terminal, external terminal control method, server, server control method, printing system, and program

Abstract

To improve convenience of printing memorandums.SOLUTION: A printing device includes reading means for reading a two-dimensional code displayed by an external terminal, inquiry means for inquiring of a print job to a server using the read two-dimensional code, acquisition means for acquiring a print job corresponding to the two-dimensional code from the server, and printing means for executing printing on the basis of the print job.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 7

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a technique for performing reservation printing. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, there exists a reservation printing system in which print data is sent from a client terminal to a print server, where the print data is stored, and when a user performs user authentication on the printing device, the printing device acquires the print data from the print server and prints it.

[0003] Patent Document 1 describes a technology that enables printing by inputting identification information such as a user ID, password, or PIN code through a user interface (hereinafter referred to as UI) such as a liquid crystal panel equipped on a printing device and performing user authentication. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] JP 2014-142734 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] There is a demand for further improvements in convenience in reservation printing.

[0006] Therefore, an object of the present disclosure is to improve the convenience of memo printing. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] A printing device according to one aspect of the present disclosure is characterized in that it comprises a reading means for reading a two-dimensional code displayed by an external terminal, a query means for querying a server about a print job using the read two-dimensional code, an acquisition means for acquiring a print job corresponding to the two-dimensional code from the server, and a printing means for executing printing based on the print job. Effect of the Invention

[0008] According to the present disclosure, the convenience of memo printing can be improved. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 illustrates a configuration of a printing system. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a printing device. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a module configuration of software that operates on the printing device. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a client terminal; [Diagram 5] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the hardware configuration of a print server and an authentication server. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 illustrates an operation unit of the printing apparatus. [Figure 7] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a sequence of the entire process of the printing system. [Figure 8] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a screen of a client terminal that displays a two-dimensional code. [Figure 9] 10 is a flowchart showing a reservation printing operation of the printing device. [Figure 10] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a list of reservation printing operations of the printing device. [Figure 11] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a sequence of the entire process of the printing system. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0010] <Embodiment 1> Fig. 1 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a printing system according to the present embodiment. The printing system includes a printing device 101, a client terminal (external terminal) 102, a print server 103, an authentication server 104, and a network 106. The printing device 101, the client terminal 102, the print server 103, and the authentication server 104 are communicably connected via the network 106. In Fig. 1, it is assumed that a plurality of client terminals 102 and printing devices 101 are connected. The printing device 101 is an image forming device having a printer function, a copy function, a scan function, and the like, and is, for example, an MFP (Multi-Functional Peripheral). The printing device 101 is connected to the network via an access point. The authentication server 104 issues an authentication token in response to a request for authentication information inquiry from the client terminal 102. The print server 103 receives a print request from the client terminal 102, associates the authentication token with the print job and the printing device, and then transmits a two-dimensional code including information on the authentication token for printing the print job to the client terminal 102. The two-dimensional code transmitted from the print server 103 is displayed on the display device of the client terminal 102. Then, a reservation printing operation is performed for one of the printing devices 101 to perform printing. The reading operation when the reservation printing operation is performed is different from the copy operation, and the scanner unit 210 of the printing device 101 recognizes the two-dimensional code 703 displayed on the display device of the client terminal 102 and reads only the two-dimensional code. The printing device 101 analyzes the two-dimensional code displayed on the display device of the client terminal 102, which is read by the scanner unit 210, and acquires an authentication token. The printing device 101 confirms the validity of the authentication token acquired through analysis with the authentication server 104. If the authentication server 104 confirms the validity of the authentication token, it instructs the print server 103 to transmit a print job linked to the authentication token. If the authentication token is valid, the print server 103 returns a print job present on the print server 103 to the printing device 101 based on the request contents. The printing device 101 receives the print job from the print server 103 and outputs an image. Note that the printing device 101 may be configured to have multiple MFPs connected thereto.

[0011] The client terminal 102 is a mobile terminal or the like capable of performing a reading operation using the scanner unit 210 of the printing device 101. The client terminal 102 is also a terminal capable of performing user authentication by accepting authentication information from a user and transmitting it to an authentication server 104. The client terminal 102 may be directly connected to the network 106, or may be connected to the network 106 via an access point like the printing device 101. The printing device 101 and the client terminal 102 may be connected to the same access point. The network 106 is, for example, a LAN (Local Area Network) that supports TCP / IP (Transmission Control Protocol / Internet Protocol).

[0012] 2 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of the printing device 101. The printing device 101 includes a control unit 201, an operation unit 208, a printing unit 219, and a scanner unit 210. The control unit 201 controls the entire printing device 101. The control unit 201 includes a CPU 202, a RAM 203, a ROM 204, an operation unit I / F 205, a printing I / F 206, a reading I / F 207, and a network I / F 211, which are connected via a system bus 213. The printing device 101 may also include a fax unit or a USB (Universal Serial Bus) I / F (not shown). The CPU (Central Processing Unit) 202 is a calculation device that controls the entire printing device 101. The CPU 202 loads a program recorded in a ROM 204 into a RAM 203 and executes it to realize each function of the printing device 101. The RAM (Random Access Memory) 202 is a work memory for the operation of the CPU 202, and is also used as a temporary storage area for image data, etc. The ROM (Read Only Memory) 203 stores various programs. The various programs are system programs, application programs, etc. The ROM 204 may also store data necessary for image formation, such as fonts. The operation unit 208 has a display device such as an LED and a button that can be operated by the user. The operation unit 208 may also have a display device such as a liquid crystal display device, and may be operable as a touch panel. The operation unit 208 is connected to the control unit 201 via an operation unit I / F 205. The operation unit I / F 205 outputs information for controlling display on the operation unit 208 to the operation unit 208 according to the control of the CPU 202. The operation unit I / F 205 also notifies the CPU 202 of information input by the user via the operation unit 208.

[0013] The print I / F 206 controls a print unit 209 under the control of the CPU 202 to execute a print operation. The read I / F 207 controls a scanner unit 210 under the control of the CPU 202 to execute a read operation. The network I / F 211 controls a communication unit 212 under the control of the CPU 202 to control communication with devices on the network 106.

[0014] 3 is a diagram showing the modular configuration of software that runs on the printing device 101. The software that runs on the printing device 101 runs on an embedded control operating system (OS) 301. Each module is classified into a middleware layer 302 or an application layer 307. The OS 301 is an operating system that governs the basic operations of the control software, and generally uses a real-time OS with excellent responsiveness. The middleware layer 302 is composed of a group of software that controls the operation unit 208, the printing unit 209, or the communication unit 212. In this embodiment, the middleware layer 302 is composed of modules such as a print control 303 that controls the printing unit 209, a read control 304 that controls the scanner unit 210, a UI control 305 that controls the operation unit 208, or a network communication control 306 that controls the communication unit 212. The application layer 307 is composed of a group of applications for implementing the functions that the printing device 101 provides to the user by operating each device via the middleware layer 302. The driver print application 308 is an application module for receiving jobs from the printer driver of the client terminal 102 and executing the operations. Jobs from the driver include print jobs that execute a printing operation, and maintenance jobs that exchange information with an external device to set up or manage the printing device 101. The reservation print application 309 is an application module that receives print jobs from the print server 103 and executes a printing operation. The device status management module 310 is a module that controls management of the network connection status.

[0015] 4 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of the client terminal 102. The client terminal 102 includes a CPU 401, a RAM 402, a ROM 403, an auxiliary storage unit 404, an operation unit 405, and a communication unit 407, which are connected via a system bus 408. The CPU 401 is a calculation device that controls the entire client terminal 102. The CPU 401 loads a program recorded in the ROM 403 into the RAM 402 and executes the program, thereby implementing each function of the client terminal 102. The RAM 402 is a work memory for the CPU 401 to operate, and is also used as a temporary storage area for data, etc. The ROM 403 stores various programs. The auxiliary storage unit 404 stores programs and various data. The auxiliary storage unit 404 is, for example, an HDD or SSD. The operation unit 405 is a display device such as an LCD (liquid crystal display device) or a mouse or keyboard that accepts operations from a user. The client terminal 102 is connected to the network 106 via a communication unit 407. The client terminal 102 communicates with an external device such as the printing device 101 via the network 106. The client terminal refers to, for example, a mobile terminal such as a smartphone, a tablet terminal, etc.

[0016] 5 is a block diagram showing an example of a hardware configuration of the print server 103. The print server 103 includes a CPU 501, a RAM 502, a ROM 503, a storage device 504, an operation unit 505, a display unit 506, a network communication unit 507, and a network connection unit 508.

[0017] The CPU 501 is a central processing unit for controlling each part of the print server 103. The RAM 502 plays the role of a working memory required when the CPU 501 executes a program. The ROM 503 is a read-only memory for storing the program executed by the CPU 501. The storage device 504 is a device for storing a database 509 or various information, and is, for example, a non-volatile storage device such as a magnetic disk or a flash memory. The operation unit 505 is composed of a keyboard, a mouse, etc., for the user to perform various input operations. The display unit 506 is composed of, for example, an LCD, and displays various information and presents it to the user. The network communication unit 507 is connected to a network such as the Internet via a network connection unit 508 and performs various communications. The above-mentioned parts are connected to each other by a bus 510, and can transmit and receive data between each other.

[0018] The authentication server 104 has the same hardware configuration as the print server 103, and a description thereof will be omitted. However, the authentication server 104 and the print server 103 may have different hardware configurations. Also, in Fig. 5, the authentication server 104 and the print server 103 are each configured as one server, but each may be configured as a server system consisting of one or more servers. Alternatively, the authentication server 104 and the print server 103 may each be configured to operate on a virtual server using a cloud service.

[0019] FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of the operation unit 208 of the printing device 101. In this embodiment, an operation unit having a minimum display and input function is assumed. The power key 601 is a button used to switch the power of the printing device 101 on / off. The power lamp 602 is a lamp that is lit when the power of the printing device 101 is on and is turned off when the power is off. The OK key 603 is a button used to clear an error that occurs in the printing device 101. The stop key (multifunction button) 604 is a button used to cancel a print job or to execute setup. The error lamp 605 is a lamp that is lit when an error occurs in the printing device 101. The wireless connection key 606 is a button used to switch the wireless connection state or to perform a push-button wireless setup such as WPS (Wi-Fi Protected Setup). Conventionally, in reservation printing, there is a method in which identification information such as a user ID, password, or PIN code is input via a UI such as a liquid crystal panel provided on a printing device, and printing is performed after user authentication is performed.

[0020] However, some printing devices, such as home inkjet printers, do not have a liquid crystal panel on which a PIN code can be entered, making it difficult to perform authentication by entering identification information on the UI for such printing devices.

[0021] Therefore, in this embodiment, a method for suitably executing reservation printing even in a printing device that does not have a liquid crystal panel will be described. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a sequence in which a user executes reservation printing from the client terminal 102. The symbol "S" in the explanation of each process in this sequence diagram means a step in the corresponding flowchart, and the same applies to the subsequent diagrams. In S701, the user inputs user authentication information on the display screen of the reservation printing application 309 displayed on the client terminal 102. The screen for inputting the user authentication information is assumed to be the screen that is first displayed when an operation to perform reservation printing is performed in the reservation printing application 309. In S702, the client terminal 102 attempts authentication using the authentication information input by the user to the authentication server 104. In S703, the authentication server 104 transmits an authentication token indicating that authentication was successful to the client terminal 102.

[0022] In S704, the client terminal 102 notifies the user that the authentication was successful. After that, in S705, the user instructs the client terminal 102 to execute the reserved print job. In S706, the client terminal 102 transmits the print job and the authentication token to the print server 103. In S707, the print server 103 accepts the print job and associates the authentication token with the print job and stores it. It also generates a two-dimensional code for printing. The two-dimensional code includes information about the authentication token, and in response to an inquiry using the authentication token, it is possible to search for a print job associated with the authentication token. After that, in S708, the print server 103 returns the two-dimensional code to the client terminal 102. In S709, the client terminal 102 displays the two-dimensional code 803 to the user and notifies the user to execute the reserved print operation. The screen at this time will be described later.

[0023] In S710, the user executes a reservation printing operation on the printing device 101. In S711, the printing device 101, upon receiving the command, transitions to a two-dimensional code reading mode. In S712, the user places the display screen of the client terminal 102 on the scanner unit 210 (platen) of the printing device 101, and the printing device 101 reads the displayed two-dimensional code 803 by scanning it. In S713, the printing device 101 reads the two-dimensional code 803 and analyzes the authentication token. Thereafter, in S714, the printing device 101 queries the authentication server 104 about the analyzed authentication token.

[0024] In S715, the authentication server 104, having received the inquiry about the authentication token, instructs the print server 103 to search for a print job linked to the authentication token. In S716, the print server 103 transmits the print job linked to the authentication token to the printing device 101. In S717, the printing device 101 executes the received print job. Thereafter, the processing of this sequence ends. By adopting such an operational sequence, the user can perform reservation printing via the print server 103 on a printing device 101 that does not have a liquid crystal panel.

[0025] 8 is a diagram showing an example of a two-dimensional code receiving screen. The two-dimensional code receiving screen is a screen on which the client terminal 102 displays the two-dimensional code received from the authentication server 104 during a reservation printing operation. The reservation printing screen displays an explanation section 801, a stop button 802, and a two-dimensional code 803. The explanation section 801 displays the current status and an explanation of the next operation. The explanation of the next operation displays that the printing device 101 will read the two-dimensional code. The stop button 802 is selected to cancel printing, and the print job is also deleted from the print server 103.

[0026] 9 is a flowchart showing an example of a setup process of the printing device 101. In the process of this flowchart, the CPU 202 of the printing device 101 reads out various programs such as a system program or a processing program stored in the ROM 204, loads them in the RAM 203, and executes various processes according to the loaded programs. The symbol "S" in the explanation of each process in this flowchart indicates a step in the flowchart. This flowchart is executed when a predetermined operation (in this embodiment, an operation of pressing and holding the stop key 604) is detected while the printing device 101 is in a standby state.

[0027] In S901, the CPU 202 secures an area in the RAM 203 for storing the number of blinks, and stores 0 as an initial value. In S902, the CPU 202 blinks the error lamp. For example, the method of blinking may be a method of repeating an on state and an off state every second. When one blink is completed, in S903, the CPU 202 adds 1 to the number of blinks. In S904, the CPU 202 determines whether the stop key 604 is pressed. If it is pressed, the CPU 202 returns to S902. If the stop key 604 is released, the CPU 202 proceeds to S905 and executes a setup process according to the number of blinks. That is, while the stop key 604 is pressed and held down, the number of blinks is incremented by one, and a setup process according to the number of blinks of the lamp when the stop key 604 is released (released from the press) is executed. Thereafter, the CPU 202 ends the process of this flowchart. The setup process can be started by pressing and holding the stop key 604 for, for example, 5 seconds, and the flashing of the error lamp can be incremented by 1 every time the stop key 604 is pressed and held for, for example, 3 seconds.

[0028] 10 is a table showing an example of a list of operations (setup processes) of the printing device 101 executed in S904. Depending on the number of blinks, setup processes such as test pattern printing or cleaning are executed. In this embodiment, the printing device 101 is placed on hold after X number of blinks and transitions to print job execution are executed.

[0029] As described above, according to this embodiment, the convenience of note printing can be improved. Specifically, the two-dimensional code including the user authentication information and job information sent from the print / authentication server to the client terminal can be displayed on the client terminal and read using the scanner of the printing device. This allows reservation printing via the print server even in printing devices that do not have a liquid crystal panel.

[0030] <Embodiment 2> In the first embodiment, in order to execute the reservation print job, the printing device 101 is transitioned to a two-dimensional code reading mode by the reservation print operation in S710 for the printing device 101. In this embodiment, an embodiment will be described in which the printing device 101 that will execute the reservation print job is specified in advance from the client terminal 102, and the reservation print job is executed without the reservation print operation on the printing device 101.

[0031] Fig. 11 is a sequence of Fig. 7 modified to suit this embodiment. Steps up to S1102 are the same as those in Fig. 7 and will be omitted. In S1103, the authentication server 104 transmits an authentication token indicating that authentication has been successful and information on the multiple printing devices 101 that can execute the print job to the client terminal 102. In S1104, the client terminal 102 notifies the user that authentication has been successful and information on the multiple printing devices 101 that can execute the print job. Thereafter, in S1105, when the user instructs the client terminal 102 to execute the reserved print job, the user selects one of the multiple printing devices 101 that can execute the print job notified in S1104 from the client terminal.

[0032] In step S1106, the client terminal 102 transmits to the print server 103 the print job of the printing device 101 selected in step S1104 and the authentication token.

[0033] In S1107, the print server 103 accepts the print job, associates the printing device 101, the authentication token, and the print job, stores them, and generates a two-dimensional code for printing. In S1108, the print server 103 returns the two-dimensional code to the client terminal 102. In S1109, the client terminal 102 displays the two-dimensional code 703 to the user and notifies the user to read the two-dimensional code. In S1110, the print server 103 instructs the printing device 101 associated with the authentication token to transition to a two-dimensional code reading mode. That is, the print server 103 instructs the printing device 101 to transition to a two-dimensional code reading mode at the timing of transmitting the two-dimensional code to the client terminal 102. In response to this, the printing device 101 transitions to a two-dimensional code reading mode in S1111.

[0034] In S1112, the user places the display screen of the client terminal 102 on the scanner unit 207 of the printing device 101, and the printing device 101 scans the displayed two-dimensional code 703 to read the two-dimensional code. In S1113, the printing device 101 reads the two-dimensional code 703 and analyzes the authentication token. In S1114, the printing device 101 queries the authentication server 104 about the analyzed authentication token. In S1115, the authentication server 104, having received the query about the authentication token, instructs the print server 103 to search for a print job associated with the authentication token. In S1116, the print server 103 transmits the print job associated with the authentication token to the printing device 101. In S1117, the printing device 101 executes the received print job. Thereafter, the processing of this sequence ends. By adopting such an operation sequence, a user can perform reservation printing via the print server 103 in a printing device 101 that does not have a liquid crystal panel.

[0035] <Other embodiments> In the above embodiment, the two-dimensional code displayed by the client terminal is read by scanning the document platen of the printing device, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the printing device may be provided with a camera on its outer surface to read the two-dimensional code, or may be provided with a reader for reading the two-dimensional code.

[0036] The present disclosure can also be realized by a process in which a program for realizing one or more functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied to a system or device via a network or a storage medium, and one or more processors in a computer of the system or device read and execute the program. It can also be realized by a circuit (e.g., ASIC) for realizing one or more functions.

[0037] The present disclosure also includes the following configuration. (Configuration 1) A reading means for reading a two-dimensional code displayed by an external terminal; an inquiry means for making an inquiry about a print job to a server using the read two-dimensional code; an acquisition means for acquiring a print job corresponding to the two-dimensional code from the server; a printing means for executing printing based on the print job; A printing device comprising: (Configuration 2) 2. The printing device according to configuration 1, wherein the two-dimensional code is generated by the server in response to an instruction to execute a print job at an external terminal, and is transmitted to the external terminal. (Configuration 3) 3. The printing device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the reading means is capable of reading the two-dimensional code by switching to a two-dimensional code reading mode. (Configuration 4) 4. The printing device according to configuration 3, wherein the reading means transitions to the two-dimensional code reading mode when a predetermined operation is performed on the printing device. (Configuration 5) 5. The printing device according to configuration 4, wherein the predetermined operation is the operation of a multi-function button provided on the printing device. (Configuration 6) The printing device according to configuration 5, wherein the printing device does not include a display unit. (Configuration 7) The printing device according to configuration 3, wherein the reading means transitions to the two-dimensional code reading mode when the printing device receives an instruction from the server to transition to the code reading mode. (Configuration 8) The printing device according to configuration 7, characterized in that the printing device receives an instruction from the server to transition to the two-dimensional code reading mode at the timing when the server transmits the two-dimensional code to the external terminal. (Configuration 9) 9. The printing device according to any one of configurations 1 to 8, wherein the reading means reads the two-dimensional code by scanning a platen provided in the printing device. (Configuration 10) A reading step of reading a two-dimensional code displayed by an external terminal; an inquiry step of making an inquiry about a print job to a server using the read two-dimensional code; an acquisition step of acquiring a print job corresponding to the two-dimensional code from the server; a printing step of executing printing based on the print job; 13. A method for controlling a printing device, comprising: (Configuration 11) A program that operates on a printing device, the program comprising: A reading means for reading a two-dimensional code displayed by an external terminal; an inquiry means for making an inquiry about a print job to a server using the read two-dimensional code; an acquisition means for acquiring a print job corresponding to the two-dimensional code from the server; a printing means for executing printing based on the print job; A program characterized by causing the program to function as a (Configuration 12) A printing system including a printing device, an external terminal, and a server, The external terminal includes: an instruction means for instructing the server to execute a print job; a receiving means for receiving from the server a two-dimensional code generated based on the print job; A display control means for displaying the two-dimensional code on a display unit; having The printing device includes: A reading means for reading the two-dimensional code displayed by the external terminal; an inquiry means for making an inquiry about a print job to the server using the read two-dimensional code; an acquisition means for acquiring a print job corresponding to the two-dimensional code from the server; a printing means for executing printing based on the print job; having The server, a receiving unit for receiving an instruction to execute the print job from the external terminal; a generating means for generating a two-dimensional code corresponding to the print job based on an instruction to execute the print job; a two-dimensional code transmitting means for transmitting the two-dimensional code to the external terminal; a print job sending means for sending a print job corresponding to the two-dimensional code to the printing device that made the inquiry in response to the inquiry using the two-dimensional code; A printing system comprising: (Configuration 13) A control method for a printing system including a printing device, an external terminal, and a server, comprising: The external terminal includes: an instruction step of instructing the server to execute a print job; a receiving step of receiving from the server a two-dimensional code generated based on the print job; a display control step of displaying the two-dimensional code on a display unit; having The printing device includes: a reading step of reading the two-dimensional code displayed by the external terminal; an inquiry step of making an inquiry about a print job to the server using the read two-dimensional code; an acquisition step of acquiring a print job corresponding to the two-dimensional code from the server; a printing step of executing printing based on the print job; having The server, a receiving step of receiving an instruction to execute the print job from the external terminal; a generating step of generating a two-dimensional code corresponding to the print job based on an instruction to execute the print job; a two-dimensional code transmitting step of transmitting the two-dimensional code to the external terminal; a print job sending step of sending a print job corresponding to the two-dimensional code to the printing device that made the inquiry in response to the inquiry using the two-dimensional code; 13. A method for controlling a printing system comprising: (Configuration 14) an instruction means for instructing a server to execute a print job; a receiving means for receiving from the server a two-dimensional code generated based on the print job; A display control means for displaying the two-dimensional code on a display unit; An external terminal comprising: (Configuration 15) an instruction step of instructing a server to execute a print job; a receiving step of receiving from the server a two-dimensional code generated based on the print job; a display control step of displaying the two-dimensional code on a display unit; A method for controlling an external terminal comprising: (Configuration 16) A program that operates on an external terminal, the external terminal comprising: an instruction means for instructing a server to execute a print job; a receiving means for receiving from the server a two-dimensional code generated based on the print job; A display control means for displaying the two-dimensional code on a display unit; A program characterized by causing the program to function as a (Configuration 17) A reception unit that receives an instruction to execute a print job from an external terminal; a generating means for generating a two-dimensional code corresponding to the print job based on an instruction to execute the print job; a two-dimensional code transmitting means for transmitting the two-dimensional code to the external terminal; a print job sending means for sending a print job corresponding to the two-dimensional code to the printing device that made the inquiry in response to the inquiry using the two-dimensional code; A server comprising: (Configuration 18) a receiving step of receiving an instruction to execute a print job from an external terminal; a generating step of generating a two-dimensional code corresponding to the print job based on an instruction to execute the print job; a two-dimensional code transmitting step of transmitting the two-dimensional code to the external terminal; a print job sending step of sending a print job corresponding to the two-dimensional code to the printing device that made the inquiry in response to the inquiry using the two-dimensional code; A method for controlling a server comprising: (Configuration 19) A program running on a server, the server comprising: A reception unit that receives an instruction to execute a print job from an external terminal; a generating means for generating a two-dimensional code corresponding to the print job based on an instruction to execute the print job; a two-dimensional code transmitting means for transmitting the two-dimensional code to the external terminal; a print job sending means for sending a print job corresponding to the two-dimensional code to the printing device that made the inquiry in response to the inquiry using the two-dimensional code; A program characterized by causing the program to function as a

Claims

1. A reading means for reading a two-dimensional code displayed by an external terminal; an inquiry means for making an inquiry about a print job to a server using the read two-dimensional code; an acquisition means for acquiring a print job corresponding to the two-dimensional code from the server; a printing means for executing printing based on the print job; A printing device comprising:

2. The printing device according to claim 1 , wherein the two-dimensional code is generated by the server in response to an instruction to execute a print job at an external terminal, and is transmitted to the external terminal.

3. 3. The printing device according to claim 2, wherein the reading means is capable of reading the two-dimensional code by switching to a two-dimensional code reading mode.

4. 4. The printing device according to claim 3, wherein the reading means transitions to the two-dimensional code reading mode when a predetermined operation is performed on the printing device.

5. 5. The printing device according to claim 4, wherein the predetermined operation is the operation of a multi-function button provided on the printing device.

6. The printing device according to claim 5 , wherein the printing device does not include a display unit.

7. 4. The printing device according to claim 3, wherein the reading means transitions to the two-dimensional code reading mode when the printing device receives an instruction from the server to transition to the code reading mode.

8. The printing device according to claim 7 , wherein the printing device receives an instruction from the server to switch to the two-dimensional code reading mode at the timing when the server transmits the two-dimensional code to the external terminal.

9. 2. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the reading unit reads the two-dimensional code by scanning a platen provided in the printing apparatus.

10. A reading step of reading a two-dimensional code displayed by an external terminal; an inquiry step of making an inquiry about a print job to a server using the read two-dimensional code; an acquisition step of acquiring a print job corresponding to the two-dimensional code from the server; a printing step of executing printing based on the print job; 13. A method for controlling a printing device, comprising:

11. A program that operates on a printing device, the program comprising: A reading means for reading a two-dimensional code displayed by an external terminal; an inquiry means for making an inquiry about a print job to a server using the read two-dimensional code; an acquisition means for acquiring a print job corresponding to the two-dimensional code from the server; a printing means for executing printing based on the print job; A program characterized by causing the program to function as a

12. A printing system including a printing device, an external terminal, and a server, The external terminal includes: an instruction means for instructing the server to execute a print job; a receiving means for receiving from the server a two-dimensional code generated based on the print job; A display control means for displaying the two-dimensional code on a display unit; having The printing device includes: A reading means for reading the two-dimensional code displayed by the external terminal; an inquiry means for making an inquiry about a print job to the server using the read two-dimensional code; an acquisition means for acquiring a print job corresponding to the two-dimensional code from the server; a printing means for executing printing based on the print job; having The server, a receiving unit for receiving an instruction to execute the print job from the external terminal; a generating means for generating a two-dimensional code corresponding to the print job based on an instruction to execute the print job; a two-dimensional code transmitting means for transmitting the two-dimensional code to the external terminal; a print job sending means for sending a print job corresponding to the two-dimensional code to the printing device that made the inquiry in response to the inquiry using the two-dimensional code; A printing system comprising:

13. A control method for a printing system including a printing device, an external terminal, and a server, comprising: The external terminal includes: an instruction step of instructing the server to execute a print job; a receiving step of receiving from the server a two-dimensional code generated based on the print job; a display control step of displaying the two-dimensional code on a display unit; having The printing device includes: a reading step of reading the two-dimensional code displayed by the external terminal; an inquiry step of making an inquiry about a print job to the server using the read two-dimensional code; an acquisition step of acquiring a print job corresponding to the two-dimensional code from the server; a printing step of executing printing based on the print job; having The server, a receiving step of receiving an instruction to execute the print job from the external terminal; a generating step of generating a two-dimensional code corresponding to the print job based on an instruction to execute the print job; a two-dimensional code transmitting step of transmitting the two-dimensional code to the external terminal; a print job sending step of sending a print job corresponding to the two-dimensional code to the printing device that made the inquiry in response to the inquiry using the two-dimensional code; 13. A method for controlling a printing system comprising:

14. an instruction means for instructing a server to execute a print job; a receiving means for receiving from the server a two-dimensional code generated based on the print job; A display control means for displaying the two-dimensional code on a display unit; An external terminal comprising:

15. an instruction step of instructing a server to execute a print job; a receiving step of receiving from the server a two-dimensional code generated based on the print job; a display control step of displaying the two-dimensional code on a display unit; A method for controlling an external terminal comprising:

16. A program that operates on an external terminal, the external terminal comprising: an instruction means for instructing a server to execute a print job; a receiving means for receiving from the server a two-dimensional code generated based on the print job; A display control means for displaying the two-dimensional code on a display unit; A program characterized by causing the program to function as a

17. A reception unit that receives an instruction to execute a print job from an external terminal; a generating means for generating a two-dimensional code corresponding to the print job based on an instruction to execute the print job; a two-dimensional code transmitting means for transmitting the two-dimensional code to the external terminal; a print job sending means for sending a print job corresponding to the two-dimensional code to the printing device that made the inquiry in response to the inquiry using the two-dimensional code; A server comprising:

18. a receiving step of receiving an instruction to execute a print job from an external terminal; a generating step of generating a two-dimensional code corresponding to the print job based on an instruction to execute the print job; a two-dimensional code transmitting step of transmitting the two-dimensional code to the external terminal; a print job sending step of sending a print job corresponding to the two-dimensional code to the printing device that made the inquiry in response to the inquiry using the two-dimensional code; A method for controlling a server comprising:

19. A program running on a server, the server comprising: A reception unit that receives an instruction to execute a print job from an external terminal; a generating means for generating a two-dimensional code corresponding to the print job based on an instruction to execute the print job; a two-dimensional code transmitting means for transmitting the two-dimensional code to the external terminal; a print job sending means for sending a print job corresponding to the two-dimensional code to the printing device that made the inquiry in response to the inquiry using the two-dimensional code; A program characterized by causing the program to function as a

Images